The Political Writings of Sir Richard Steele

our Selves at his Altar, so frequently and solemnly Sworn to defend. This plain, unpeiplexed, unalterable Rule for our Conduct, is visibly the Work of his Hand to a favoured People. Her Majesty's Parliamentary Title, and the Succession in the Illustrious House of Hanover > is the Ark of God to Great Britain, and, like that of Old, carries Death to the proCue Hand that shall dare to touch it.

Member O/parliament

Concerning the

BILL

For Preventing the

Growth of SCHISM;

A

LETTE R:

T O A .

Member ^parliament,

S / it,. London, Ma}^^%. 1714. •

THOUGH I have had the Misfortune to appear an unworthy Member of your House, and am expelled, accordingly4, from my Seat in Parliament, I am not by that Vote (which was more important to the People of England than I (hall at this Timeexplatn) deprived of the common Benefits of Life, Liberty, or any other Enjoyment' of a rationas Being. And I do not think 1 can better bestow my Time, or employ these Advantages, than in doing all in my- Power to preserve them td Others as well as my self, and in asserting the Right os'my Fellow-Subjects against any thing ivhich I apprehend to be aur Encroachment upA' on.
on what they ought toenjoyas Men, and what they are legally possessed of as Englishmen, or, if J.OU will, as Britons.

This, Sir, is all the Apology I shall make to you for addressing to you in this publick Manner my Thoughts concerning the Bill, now making its Way with all convenient Expedition through your House and the whole Legislature. I shall examine this Matter as well as Haste will allow me, and therefore must recite as distinctly as 1 can what you gave me in Discourse as the Substance of this intended Law, to wit,

(THAT whereas by arr Act of Parliament, • in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Years 4 of his late Majesty King Charles the Second,

* intituled, An Act for the Uniformity of

* Publick Prayers, and the Administration of the 4 Sacrament, and other Rites and Ceremonies; 4 and for Establijhing the Form of Making, Or» Joining, and Consecrating Bijhops, Priests and 4 Deacons in the Church of England; it is a

* mong other Things enacted, that every School* 4 Master keeping any Publick or Private School, 4 and every Person instructing and Teaching any » Youth or Private Family, as a Tutor or School4 Master, should subscribe before his or their 4 Respective Bisliop, or Archbishop, or Ordina'ry of the Diocess, a Declaration or Acknow

* ledgraent, in which among other Things is 4 contained as follows, viz. J A. B. do declare %

* that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church 4 of England, as it is now by Law Established.—

* A*A if any School-Master or other Person in' 1strutting or teaching Youth in any Private School